Lingerie and Lariats (Rough & Ready#7) (18 page)

Cheyenne McCray

Wyatt Cameron’s gaze slowly traveled the room as he leaned up against the bar, one elbow and forearm on the polished hardwood surface. The lights were low, the wood-bladed fans stirring the air that carried smells of bar food and beer.

Stampede Bar was warm from all of the bodies packed into it and filled with music, laughter, and chatter. Wyatt tapped one boot in time with the song the live band, El Rio, was playing. Cowboys and cowgirls danced a lively two-step on the sawdust-strewn dance floor.

A pair of pool tables took up one end of the massive room and it looked like some serious games were going on while a couple of cowboys were throwing darts at a dartboard at the other end of the room. Most of the high tops were filled and every stool at the bar was taken.

“See anything you like?” Mike Sharpe said over the fiddle playing.

Wyatt gave his buddy a quick grin then took another drink of his longneck beer. “Still looking,” he said after a swallow. “I’ll know her when I see her.”

“Damn.” Mike glanced toward the door and gave a low whistle. “Take a look at that tall, sexy drink of water.”

Wyatt turned his attention to the door. His gaze went straight past the curvy woman to the petite gal behind her and his gut tightened. Light brown hair with blonde streaks, big eyes, and the type of smile that lit up even the dim bar. She was so damned pretty that he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Wyatt said as he studied the woman who’d caught his eye, “I think I just fell in love with that little thing next to her.”

Mike looked amused. “Why don’t you turn on that Cameron charm and go meet the lady?”

Wyatt considered it for a moment. He didn’t want to pounce the moment they walked in the door. Well, maybe he did, but it wasn’t the real smart thing to do. “I’ll give them a moment to settle in.”

He watched the two as they made their way to the only available high top in the room. The petite woman wore a red blouse and blue jeans that hugged her cute little ass. A silver chain with a small medallion was at her throat and small silver hoops on her ears.

He couldn’t get himself to look away. She must have felt his gaze on her because she looked up and gave him a little smile before turning back to her friend.

“If that isn’t your cue, I don’t know what is,” Mike was saying. “I think you’d better get your ass over there before someone beats you to it.”

Wyatt grinned to himself. Damn, that woman was cute as hell. “I think you’re right.”

He set his empty longneck on the bar and headed toward the woman he had to have.

“That cowboy you just smiled at is on his way over.” Carly’s startling lavender eyes met Sabrina’s gaze. “I knew you’d be flirting from the moment you walked in.”

“I was not flirting.” Sabrina’s heart beat a little faster. “And you know I’m not ready to meet any guys.”

Carly combed her fingers through her dark hair. “You’re plenty ready. It’s been seven months since you and the idiot broke up.”

Idiot was right. Stephen was definitely one of those not-so-rare breeds.

Sabrina shook her head. “That’s not all. You know what I mean.”

“No, I don’t know,” Carly said. “There’s no reason you can’t get out and start living now.”

Sabrina held one palm to her belly. “I don’t know. I think it’s too soon—”

“That is one incredibly fine cowboy,” Carly interrupted. “Fine, fine, fine.”

That was so true, Sabrina thought as she watched the man’s easy approach from the corner of her eye.

He was tall and had a cowboy’s build with broad shoulders and lean hips. He wore a white dress shirt and a white Stetson along with Wrangler jeans. The shirt in no way disguised his muscular chest and arms.

Yummy.

Sabrina’s stomach flipped as the cowboy held her gaze and walked up to their table. He touched the brim of his hat as he looked from Sabrina to Carly.

“I’m Wyatt Cameron,” he said with a sexy smile that made her stomach drop to her toes.

Carly extended her hand. “Carly Abbot.”

Sabrina jumped when Carly elbowed her. Sabrina cleared her throat and offered her own hand. “Sabrina Holliday.”

His touch was warm as he gripped her hand for a few moments and held her gaze. A shiver ran down her spine as she met his gorgeous brilliant blue eyes.

“Are you part of the Cameron crew that I hear so much about over in the San Rafael Valley?” Carly tilted her head to the side. “You have a bunch of brothers.”

“That would be me.” Wyatt had a spark of amusement in his eyes as he released Sabrina’s hand. “Three brothers and a sister.”

Carly smiled. “I figured.”

“Mind if my friend and I sit with you?” Wyatt nodded in the direction of another good-looking cowboy who was leaning up against the bar.

“We don’t mind at all,” Carly said.

Sabrina felt mute. Wyatt Cameron had all the makings of a man she could really enjoy being around. But she didn’t want that… Didn’t want to get close to any man. She was all for Carly’s determination that tonight was all about flirting and fun.

Wyatt took a seat at the high top and gave a signal to the other cowboy who started coming their way. When the cowboy arrived, Wyatt made introductions.

“Mike, this is Sabrina and Carly.” He gestured to each of them. “Sabrina and Carly, this is Mike Sharpe who’s also from the valley.”

“A pleasure.” Mike smiled and shook each of their hands.

Carly gave a slow nod. “I think I’ve heard of your family, too,” she said to Mike. “You own Sharpe Feed and Tack in Patagonia?”

“My cousin, Ty Sharpe, owns the feed store,” Mike said. “I have a ranch on the other side of Wyatt’s.”

“The Sharpe family owns this bar, too, don’t they?” Carly asked. “A friend mentioned it the last time I was here.”

“That would be another cousin who owns Stampede.” Mike glanced around the room. “Brady’s probably around here somewhere.”

“Where are you ladies from?” Wyatt’s gaze settled on Sabrina.

Her cheeks warmed at the intense look of interest in his eyes. “Tucson.”

“What part of town?” he asked.

She cleared her throat. “The foothills.”

His gaze slid to Carly. “Whereabouts are you? Tucson, too?”

Carly shook her head. “Patagonia.” She glanced at Sabrina. “Sabrina is staying with me for the summer.”

Sabrina wanted to kick Carly under the table but she was afraid she would kick one of the men. She really didn’t want these cowboys to know she’d be a lot closer to them than Tucson. This Wyatt might think she’d be interested in seeing him more, and all she wanted was a little fun.

But then again, she might be thinking too much into this. She’d barely met the guy. Still, she really didn’t want to seem accessible to anyone. That was part of the reason why she’d let Carly talk her into staying for the summer. She needed time alone.

Wyatt’s smile made Sabrina’s toes curls. Damn, he was hot.

“Dance?” he asked and gestured to the floor as a new tune started.

Carly was busy chatting with Mike when Sabrina looked over at her friend.

I should just let loose just like we planned, Sabrina thought. She missed her old self. There was a time when she would have been flirting like Carly and just having fun without worrying about the possibility that the guy would want to get into a relationship. She needed that again. She needed to let her hair down and just have fun.

With a smile she looked back at Wyatt. “Sure.”

He surprised her by helping her down from the tall stool at the high top, then took her hand and led her to the dance floor.

Butterflies batted around in Sabrina’s belly as they made it onto the floor, and he brought her close and they started to two-step. “I’m not very good at this.” She raised her voice over the loud music as she stepped on Wyatt’s boot. “To me two-stepping means one step on the floor and one on your boot.”

“You’re doing fine.” He met her gaze, a glint of humor in his eyes. “Just don’t run off is all I ask. I’d like to get to know you.”

She didn’t answer. She didn’t plan on letting any man get to know her well. But it wouldn’t hurt to have a little fun dancing with a cowboy. This was all about a fun night out.

“I’ll think about it,” she said with an answering smile.

By the time three songs had passed, Sabrina was laughing and enjoying herself more than she’d expected. Her skin was covered in a light film of perspiration and her heart was beating a little faster from the fast-paced tunes that they’d danced to.

She’d been having so much fun that she forgotten all about Carly. When she glanced back at the table, her friend was gone. She searched the dance floor with her gaze and smiled when she saw her friend talking with Mike to one side of the room.

Carly looked like she was having fun flirting with the cowboy, which was no surprise. If Carly was anything when it came to men, she was a flirt and a heartbreaker. Poor Mike, Sabrina thought and mentally shook her head. You’re in for some heartache if you’re not careful. Unless Carly actually considered settling for one man.

Ha. That’ll be the day. Not after Carly’s breakup. Ever since then she’d decided to flirt and play and that was good enough for her.

Sabrina caught her breath as Wyatt brought her into his embrace, catching her off guard. For a moment she wondered what he was doing and then realized the band had struck up a slow tune.

He drew her close and she felt his belt buckle dig into her belly and smelled the clean scent of his aftershave. Her stomach flip-flopped again as she felt a moment of panic. This was close, far too close to be allowing herself to get to a man.

But it felt so good being in his arms. She rested her palms on his shoulders and could feel the power in his body as they slowly moved on the dance floor. About six-three, he was almost a foot taller than she was and she felt more than petite in his arms. She breathed in his warm, masculine scent as they danced and found herself sighing. She loved the scent of a man.

# # #

Cheyenne McCray

The next thing Kaitlyn knew, she was in his arms. “And I love having you in my home.” Wayne’s voice was low, deep, and thrills rolled through her.

A part of her said she should turn and run. That this was too much, too soon. But another part of her wanted what he could give her. What they could share.

She closed her eyes and let him hold her close, their bodies snug together. She breathed in his scent, letting it fill her completely.

When she opened her eyes, her gaze met his. She slid her arms around his neck and pulled him closer until their lips met and she kissed him.

The kiss was more powerful than the one he had given her at the party. This one was filled with years of longing and need so intense that she didn’t know if she’d ever catch her breath.

She slid her hands into his hair, loving the soft strands slipping through her fingers and the feel of his scalp beneath her fingertips. She moved her hands down his neck and over his shoulders that were hard and muscular beneath her palms.

He kept her pressed up against him and she felt his erection against her belly. She ached between her thighs and she suddenly wanted her clothes off and to strip his away. She wanted to feel the heat of his naked skin against hers.

Their relationship had always been so sexually charged once they started having a physical relationship. They had matched each other in the depths of their desire and sexuality. She’d never felt anything with any man like she had with him. Not that her sexual experiences were extensive. She’d had all of three including Wayne and her ex.

Wayne kissed her even harder and she made soft sounds of want and need as she moved her hands down and explored his chest with her palms. He had held her by her waist but was now gripping her ass, pulling her impossibly closer to him. He raised her up and she wrapped her thighs around his hips and moved her arms around his neck again and he was carrying her to the bed.

The comforter was soft against her back and the mattress dipped beneath their combined weight as he rolled her onto her side so that they were facing each other. He kissed her then moved his lips to the corner of her mouth then moved them to her ear where he nipped her earlobe. She gasped with pleasure as it sent tingles through her body.

A part of her held back. She shouldn’t be here, shouldn’t be doing this. Not with all that was going on in her life… Not with all that had gone on.

But another part of her needed this. Needed to feel alive again. Needed to feel closeness to another person that she hadn’t experienced for a long, long time.

She let everything slip away and let herself fall into being with Wayne. Being with him completely for the night where she wouldn’t think of the past.

Not for tonight.

# # #

Cheyenne McCray

Wind tugged at Jessie Porter’s dark red hair as she climbed out of her red Mustang and her athletic shoes met Bar C ground. She pushed errant strands out of her face as she slowly looked around her at the Cameron family ranch. From what she knew of the place, it had been in the same family for generations.

A massive barn, extensive corrals, an old bunkhouse, and a sprawling ranch home edged the huge driveway. The parking area was big enough to accommodate a semi if need be, with enough room for the big rig to turn around. Everything was big on this ranch from what she could see.

The bawl of cattle in the distance told her that a herd was close. Lacy clouds were scattered across a blue early morning sky as the sun rose.

She reached into the passenger seat of her car and grabbed her backpack with her camera equipment, then slung it over her shoulder before pulling out her Nikon and looping the strap around her neck. The car door gave a solid thump as she slammed it shut and then she walked to the back of the vehicle. A big white work truck was parked on one side of her Mustang, on the other a sleek new black Ford crew-cab.

Gravel crunched beneath her shoes as she stepped away from the vehicles and raised her camera, looked through the lens, and started shooting.

More than likely the ranch’s owner, Zane Cameron, would be out working but she wasn’t sure where. She was bound to run into someone who did know as she began photographing the ranch. Too bad Danica, the youngest Cameron, wasn’t going to be around. Danica had mentioned that she had to spend a week in New Mexico visiting a friend, so she wouldn’t be here while Jessie was.

For cowboys, the days started before a rooster crowed. Jessie had intended to be at the Bar C when its cowboys climbed out of bed, but she’d overslept, forgetting to set her alarm and she hadn’t started her drive from Tucson on time.

In this part of Arizona, the elevation was almost five thousand feet and the late October air was chilly in the mornings. The mornings warmed quick under the southern Arizona sun, so quick that at ten-thirty she was ready to remove her sweater, and the sun warmed her bare arms. Thanks to her sister’s visit and subsequent amazing cooking, Jessie’s jean shorts were feeling a little too tight this morning. She’d miss Tanya now that she was heading back to Houston, but her waistline just might recover.

She focused her lens on the ranch house that was built of dark wood. From the front it looked like it was well over four thousand square feet, but who knew what it actually was—it could be much larger. She’d heard that the Camerons had done well for themselves, and by the looks of it, that was true. Between the four brothers and their respective ranches, they had a virtual empire in the San Rafael Valley.

It was only recently that she’d become friends with Danica, the youngest sibling in the family. She was the reason Jessie had been hired to photograph the ranch, and soon the impending wedding of Zane, the eldest son.

Tall, stately old sycamore trees, mesquites and a few native oaks shaded the house. An enclosed porch ran the length of the home and through the screen she saw a variety of plants hanging from the rafters. More potted greenery was arranged around chairs and beside the loveseat-sized white porch swing. A rooster weather vane perched on one end of the rooftop that she captured with its luscious blue-sky background.

Colorful flowerbeds had been planted in front of the house—pansies, chrysanthemums, and carnations were beneath the Arizona October sun.

An old wooden wagon wheel leaned up against an oak that had an old fashioned triangular dinner bell hanging from it. It made for an excellent photo. To the left of the home was a well-shaded area with a covered swing, and she heard the sound of a small waterfall as it trickled into a pond.

Behind the house rose a tree line along with a weathered windmill that made rusted scraping sounds as the blades turned with the wind. She wondered if the windmill actually pumped water for the house or if it was unused and simply remained from decades gone by. She’d head out back and photograph it, too.

Colorful birds darted in and out of the trees, chirping and shrieking, and she saw a lizard scale a wall of the house.

She captured everything with a practiced eye and knew the photographs were going to turn into one fabulous collection when she was done. This place was a photographer’s dream. From what little she’d seen, she had the feeling that she could spend hours here and still not catch everything that she wanted to.

“Can I help you?”

A deep, masculine drawl from behind her send a shiver down her spine and she lowered her camera and let it hang around her neck. She turned to face one hell of a fine cowboy, easily one of the sexiest she’d seen in all of her twenty-nine years.

At least six-three with broad shoulders and a cowboy’s build, he had blue flame eyes and black hair that curled slightly beneath his cowboy hat. His skin was well tanned and his arms roped with muscle.

“Sure.” She smiled. “You can help me anytime.” He raised an eyebrow and she grinned as she held out her hand. “Jessica Porter,” she said. “But please call me Jessie. I’m here to photograph the ranch and the upcoming wedding.”

“You’re my kid sister’s friend.” The cowboy took her hand in a firm grip. “Welcome to the Bar C.”

Jessie’s heart started to pound like crazy as the cowboy’s warm touch sent fire through her body. Her mouth grew dry and she bit the inside of her lower lip. It was the most enticing reaction that she’d ever had to a man.

Before he released it, he said, “I’m Zane Cameron.”

The disappointment that swept through her was a surprise. She didn’t even know Zane, so what difference did it make that he was getting married in just weeks?

What a shame. All of that hot man flesh would soon belong to some other woman.

The green-eyed redhead was so sexy that he’d damned near gone hard when he’d clasped her hand. She had a cute grin and shapely body and her nipples were hard, poking against the light cotton of her T-shirt.

She wasn’t wearing a bra.

For one moment Zane thought about carting Jessie off to the ranch house and taking her six ways ’til Sunday.

Well hell.
He mentally shook his head. He had no business thinking about another woman and his body had no damned excuse to react the way it had.

Except that Jessie Porter was one hell of a woman. And he was a red-blooded American male and he’d just had a natural reaction to her.

Keep telling yourself that, Cameron.

“Congratulations,” she said. Her smile was enough to make him crazy.

For a moment he didn’t know why she was telling him congratulations, but then he regained his senses.

“Thanks.” He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops, feeling like he needed to anchor them to make sure he kept his hands off of her.

She tilted her head to the side, which caused her dark red hair to slide away from her elegant neck. “Is the bride-to-be here?”

“Phoebe’s at her place.” He dragged his hand down his face then gave a nod in the direction of the house. “You can photograph anything you’d like to around here. Danica wants to give the album to our aunt.”

Jessie nodded. “Danica mentioned that your aunt took care of the two of you along with your three brothers. Raising five kids is quite a feat for one woman.”

“Sure as hell was.” He glanced at Jessie as she fell into step beside him.

“Danica said two of your brothers are twins,” she said. “Wayne and Wyatt.”

Zane nodded. “Yep, and our youngest brother is Dillon.”

Her smile was pure sunshine as she looked at him.

God only knew why he found himself comparing Phoebe with Jessie.

He’d begun to feel a little uneasy about his relationship with Phoebe and he’d managed to put off the wedding another couple of months, but here it was, creeping back up. To him Phoebe had been the picture of sweetness and intelligence, but lately it seemed that there had to be another side of her that others had seen but he hadn’t, but then maybe it was the pressure of the wedding. It did concern him, though.

Ah, hell. Maybe his concern was just a case of pre-wedding jitters. Although he had a good mind to move the date again.

He glanced at Jessie and thought how different she looked from Phoebe who was pale blonde and petite at five-one. Jessie, on the other hand, was no shorter than five-eight. Both women were beautiful as hell, just as different as sunrise from sunset.

He ground his teeth. He’d never been one to compare women, especially not now that he was about to be married. It was time he settled down and had a couple of kids to carry on the Cameron name. No one else in the family seemed to be inclined to head down that road. Someone had to do it.

“Phoebe would like you to photograph her place, too.” He paused in front of the doors to the ranch house. “She’s got a nice home, just north before you hit the hills and she wants the pictures to market it.”

“So, she’s selling it now that you’re getting married?” Jessie took her camera in both hands. “Of course she’ll be moving to the ranch, I assume.”

“You assume right.” Zane tried not to frown. “Phoebe is reluctant to sell her place and has decided to rent it.” Considering how pricey the house was, he wasn’t sure she’d be able to find anyone who could afford to rent it in these parts. He’d just have to convince her to put it up for sale. There was no need to hang on to another property.

Zane held the screen door open that let out onto the porch. Jessie hitched her pack with her camera equipment on her shoulder and her shoes made soft sounds on the wooden floor as she passed through the door and cool air touched her face.

“I love this. Everything about your place is fantastic.” She raised her camera and glanced at him. “I can photograph anything?”

“Almost anything.” The corner of his mouth turned up in a look that was sexy enough to make her stomach flip. “When in doubt, just ask.”

She nodded. “Sure.”

As she took a few shots of the expansive porch, taking in antique ironwork objects decorating the area as he let the screen door close. When she lowered her camera, he opened the huge door to the ranch house. She stepped through the doorway and entered the spacious home.

Inside everything was big and roomy with western décor and artwork, and high vaulted ceilings. The beautiful hardwood floor had area rugs covering parts of it. A coffee table made from a tree trunk was in front of a long leather L-shaped couch and another fabric couch with a western design, both of which faced an enormous entertainment center and big screen TV. Picture windows showed the incredible views from the front and back.

Through an archway was a spacious kitchen that she wanted to get a better look at. From what she could see of it, she knew her sister the cook would love it.

Jessie had just started photographing the living room when a cell phone rang and she lowered her camera. She automatically put her hand to the phone she wore on a holster at her side but realized it was Zane’s as she saw him take his phone from his own holster on his belt and he answer it.

His expression hardened as he listened to the caller. “I’ll take care of it,” Zane said and pressed the off button before re-holstering his phone. He looked at Jessie. “I need to leave to deal with a couple of hunters trespassing on my land.”

“Can I go with you?” She let her camera hang from its strap around her neck and hitched the backpack up on her shoulder. “I’d love an opportunity to get a look at some of the scenery.”

He paused for a moment then gave a nod. “Come on.”

This time his stride was long and she had to double her steps to keep up with him as they headed outside to the big black Ford truck she had parked next to.

She hurried to the passenger side but he was there before her. He opened the door and she stepped up on the running board then climbed inside before he shut the door behind her.

He got in on the driver’s side and put the key in the ignition and started it. The truck roared to life and he backed up then headed over the cattle guard and under the sign with the Bar C Ranch’s name and brand. His presence was so powerful that she found it hard not to be completely aware of him. She glanced at his profile and almost forgot that he was hands-off.

Damn.

As she studied him, his gaze met hers for a brief moment and she felt the power of some kind of connection between them. Her heart beat faster and she felt a tingling sensation all the way to her belly. A muscle ticked in his jaw before he moved his gaze back to the road.

She took a deep breath and tried to shake off the incredible attraction she had for Zane Cameron.

Once she turned her attention to the scenery, she was again impressed by the canopy of dark green oaks that contrasted against the expanse of golden grass. Here and there were pockets cottonwood trees and a few massive sycamores.

“This country is amazing,” she said. “An outdoor photographer’s dream.”

“I grew up here and I never get tired of it.” He glanced over at her as he drove. “Most visitors here, including Arizona natives from other parts of the state, can’t believe they’re in Arizona. Had a guy from Santa Barbara out here and he couldn’t believe how much it looked like the area he was from.”

“The expanse of grass of the San Rafael Valley and the surrounding green hills is just beautiful,” she said.

“Most people are surprised to learn that the musical
Oklahoma
was filmed right here in the valley,” he said.

“I never would have guessed that.” She raised her brows. “Parts of the grass valley look like how I would picture the Midwest plains back in the day.”

She was in love with the country. So peaceful, so quiet, so stunning.

It wasn’t long before they paused in front of a barbed wire fence with an open gate and a cattle guard. She looked at Zane.

“The ‘No Hunting’ signs have been taken down.” He shook his head. “I’ll have to get one of the men out here to take care of it.”

Zane drove on and they came up on an old red truck parked in the shade of a group of tall oaks but no one was in sight. Up ahead was a stock tank and water tower.